“I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.“
Philippians 4:12
How could Paul write such a statement? To get along with humble means–what does he mean by humble? The word actually carries the connotation of becoming humble. The greek word is in the passive voice, which simply means the action is being done to him (as opposed to making himself humble). It simply means to make do with little. He goes on to say that he knows how to live in prosperity–what a striking contrast to living in humble means. By prosperity, Paul is saying that he has had an abundance of material things, and it doesn’t change him. He then reveals something very important–this state was something he learned. The verb for learned used is in the perfect (tense) passive (voice), which simply means that this learning was a past event that had continuous results, and the past action was done to him (he didn’t do the action to himself). In other words, this secret revealed was something unique done to him in the past that he hadn’t previously experienced, and its impact was ongoing into the future. It was something that didn’t come natural–it was learned. What specifically had Paul learned? Contentment. Look at the previous verse:
“…for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.” Philippians 4:11
When Paul was writing this Epistle he was on house arrest in Rome. He had already finished his 3 missionary journeys, and he was approaching his departure from this life. His was a life of learning, but this topic of contentment was one that he most profoundly exemplified. What does the word content mean? In the Greek, it is an adjective describing Paul’s state of being. In other words, this was a disposition he possessed. What was this content disposition? It was essentially that Paul was self-sufficient. What self-sufficient doesn’t mean is a notion that he wasn’t relying upon God for his provision, but rather that what God had provided was enough! To put another way, the material things (house, job, mode of transportation, food, etc.) that God provided for Paul in his life were all sufficient for him all the time. God’s supply was enough for him, even if that meant that his house would be a prison, his transportation would be a criminal’s carriage, and that his provisions would be supplied from his faithful friends.
What’s the application for us today?
- What are the material things in your life that you couldn’t do without?
- What are the relationships that if you lost you wouldn’t know how to survive?
Paul was anchored in to Christ. Christ was enough. His life was a new life that Christ had recreated.
His purpose? Spread abroad the saving gospel of Jesus Christ.
His mission? Entrust the Word to faithful followers of Christ.
What a call! What a life!
Let us look to Paul as one who (though not perfect) provides (by the grace of God) an example of the secret to living–contentment!
— December 5, 2015